New military strategy: U.S. equates Russia and ISIL

The U.S. Army develops new military strategy: it must be prepared to counter not only the extremists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant but also the "revisionist state" of Russia.

According to the new U.S. military strategy, the American servicemen “must be ready to counter the “revisionist states” as Russia that are challenging international norms as well as violent extremist organizations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” Joinfo.ua reports with reference to the Department of Defense.

The document notes that, along with certain positive contributions in some security areas such as counternarcotics and counterterrorism, the Russian Federation “also points to that nation’s willingness to use force to achieve its goals.”

The military strategy emphasizes that “It (Russia – Ed.) also has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not respect the sovereignty of its neighbors” and notes that by its actions the Russian Federation is undermining regional security.

“Russia’s military actions are undermining regional security directly and through proxy forces,” the document says.

But Russia is not the only country of concern in the strategy document.

Iran’s nuclear program worries American allies in the region and beyond, according to the strategy. Iran sponsors terrorist groups in the region and is active in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon.

‘North Korea remains an outlaw state that has developed atomic weapons and is building missiles capable of reaching the United States,” the document reads.